Where do you recommend for pen purchases? In the past I've used Goulet but there was a post (maybe here?) awhile back about them that inclined me to not give them money any more.

Background : I teach a class about once a year and I like to gift my graduating students a pen because I find it unique and interesting - you don't see fountain pens much anymore. I usually go with a Lamy Safari (but am up for recommendations on similar starter pens; see bottom). In the past they (Lamy) sold a gift set that was the pen and 5 or so of the disposable cartridges in various colors (no Z28 included) and that was my go-to. They don't appear to sell that particular product anymore so I'd reverted to just the standalone Safari and including one extra disposable cartridge since I have quite a few but don't use them.

Preferably a US based distributor.

While we're at it, any suggestions for a good, comparable, starter pen besides the Lamy Safari? Around $30 USD is my max price range since some times I have up to 15 students and that gets... pricey : )
Main consideration is that it's a decent pen that won't frustrate new users but something nicer than a disposable (EG: Pilot Varsity).

@clif For students it's hard to go wrong with Pilot Kakunos.

@clif Cardinal Pens and PaperTruphaeVannessAtlasJetPens If you're near Chapel Hill NC, Crazy Alan's EmporiumA nice starter pen is the Pilot Explorer.

@clif vanness, goldspot, cultpens, endless pens, jetpens. I also get a lot of pens on AliExpress platinum preppy is a great starter pen and very cheap. jinhao 82s are also excellent

I don't buy fountain pens there --- despite following this community, I use only a handful of very inexpensive fountain pens, and am not a very "serious" fountain penner --- but I have purchased other types of pens from jetpens.com and I've been fine with the experience.

https://www.jetpens.com/

Looks like they're based in Texas and have free US shipping over $35.

As for Goulet, I haven't purchased pens from them, but in the past I have enjoyed looking at their ink samples and watching their fountain pen YouTube videos. Looks like they're in Virginia and have free US shipping over $99.

@clif if you’re in the PNW/Oregon seasidepenshop.com/ — I’ve gotten some really fun stuff from them, including a bunch of rare Lamys, but in general the price of everything fountain pen has jumped up due to the tariffs.I think Goulet/goldspot/vanness might be running dads and grads deals over Memorial Day weekendTeam “give them safaris” since they’re super easy to swap nibs on (and lamy also makes lefty friendly nibs)

Stylo.ca

I'll bite: what did you read about Goulet?

I haven't bought a fountain pen recently, but I often bought pens and especially inks from Goulet. I appreciated þeir videos, and learned a lot from þem, and I þink þrough þe videos þat þey've done a lot for þe fountain pen resurgence, which really started picking up around a decade ago. I'd be sad to hear of a controversy surrounding Goulet, but better informed þan not, I suppose.

Vanness is the only pen store I've ever needed. Great group of people over there. https://vanness1938.com/

I can't say I've dealt with them, but I've heard a lot of good things about Atlas Stationers, and have thought they would likely be the store that I started working with to maintain a regular supply of stationery goods.

I have ordered from Goldspot Pens once, and they did a good job, no complaints.

Long story short, the Goulets helped start a chapter of a very right-wing, anti-LGBTQ+ church, so you can figure that 10% of everything you spend with them will end up funding hate.

I've done a ton of business with both Atlas and Goldspot. Nothing but high praise for both of them!

Adding a vote for Jetpens. I've bought some pretty expensive pens from them, and their customer service is stellar.

Have you looked into the Pilot Explorer/Lightive? It runs about $20, and has a really nice nib. The Pilot Metropolitan shares the same nib assembly, is a metal pen, but can run a little bit more expensive. If you're willing to pick one up from Amazon/AliExpress/Etsy, the Hongdian 1851 is less than $20, metal, and a great writing experience. It even comes with a converter, so you're not stuck with cartridges.

😞

I hadn't seen the Pilot Explorer - looks pretty nice for the price, I'll add it to the list.

I'd looked into the Metropolitan before and almost got one for myself but I feel like I've already got too many pens. It is just slightly over my price point but will keep it on the list for when I have a small class.

Thank you

Apparently I had Goldspot in my bookmarks but had forgotten about them. Added Atlas and Goldspot to my list of sites - thank you.

Great to hear, thanks for the input.

That's a new one on me - looking into it.

I apparently have driven right past that location on the way from WA down to Cannon Beach - had no idea it was there. Though, it's been many, many years since I lived in that area.

Thanks for the info and the input on the Safari. I had no idea they made lefty nibs, luckily I'm not personally afflicted by the southpaw curse ; D

Another new one to me - adding to the list. Thanks!

Yet another I hadn't heard of - thank you

I have a couple of Jinhao's that I picked up 5 or 6 years ago but I don't recall the models. One had a bad seal so it would leak a little but the other has been "good enough" though.

Just checked and the goodish one is a X750. It's hard to describe how I don't particularly like the "feel" of it but it works and was quite cheap so it is the one that goes with me on trips since I wouldn't be too terribly sad if I lost or damaged it : )

Adding cultpens.com to the list!

Two more retailers here I haven't heard of and an additional vote for the Explorer - thank you!

I stumbled across the Kakunos when looking up some of the other suggestions above and it's definitely going on the short list. Thank you.

@clif Seaside Pens just got up and running in the last year, and she just opened her brick and mortar store this year, so you didn’t miss it; it was probably a knickknack shop at the time.The various Safaris/Studios/Scalas from Lamy all use the same nib type, and have similar nib swap directions youtube.com/watch?v=i82pPFCkpGI — new nibs are mostly about $15 for steelFound the drama on the goulets on a Reddit thread: reddit.com/r/fountainpens/comm — I’m not surprised

@clif I wish I could say I was surprised by the Goulet situation but since they defended the Noodlers guy (libertarian, fan of conspiracy theories, cultural appropriation with his ink names) it tracks.🫠 ah well. I’ll have to find other places to buy obnoxious inks than Goulet

Wait, are you telling us there is such a thing as too many pens? 🤣

Thanks for the info.

Jetpens is great, I've used them for years.

Crazy right? I just learned about this myself.

O, I just realized I'd missed the Hongdian 1851 suggestion when making my list. That is a pretty great looking pen for the price... I'm intrigued.

I do try to avoid amazon and ali when I can but next time I make an order I might need to throw one of these in to check it out. Thanks again.